Interviewing Techniques
Cascade Career Services
Student Services Building, Room 104
503-978-5600
Visual Interview
INTERVIEW STRUCTURE
(Inverted Funnel)
BEGIN
BEGINNING
Begin broad and narrow
down subject matter
30%
• Review your strong points
• Ask questions
“Tell me about yourself”
“What did you like about our ad?”
Rate Your Skills
MIDDLE
Narrow area - focus on specific
qualifications
Introductions, settle in, mood is set
interview begins, position is described.
60%
• Drop lead in comments
you want the employer to
ask more about
Cover major points in
job description
•
•
•
•
•
Experience
Education
Ability
Skills/ Strengths
Personal qualities
END
Begin narrow end broad
10%
Is there anything you would like to
add?
Summarize self and skills, thank them, ask for the job and the next step in the process.
END
Purpose of an Interview
The interview is the employer’s chance to test three
things in a face-to-face meeting:
 Fit
 Motivation
 Professionalism
Qualities Interviewers Look For
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Competence/Expertise
Adaptability
Motivation
Communication Skills
Decision Making
Problem Solving Skills
Professionalism
Sincerity
Thoughtfulness
Energy level
Some of these are personal
attributes, not technical skills.
Remember as you prepare for
your interview that the
attitude and image you project
are as important as what you
know how to do!
Preparing for the Interview:
Self-Assessment
Consider your motivation in applying for the job
with this company by asking:
 What do I have to offer?
 What do I know about this employer?
 Why do I want this job?
 What do I expect from this job?
 Where does this fit in my plans?
 How does it match my values, skills, interests?
Preparing for the Interview:
Research
 Job Description or career information on olmis or CIS
 Company Information – history, products/services,
opportunities and goals, corporate culture
 Where to Turn – company web site, PCC’s
CareerConnections, trade journals, newspaper
on-line indices, facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and blogs
Preparing for the Interview:
Personal Readiness
Appearance – Show your professionalism
 Make sure overall appearance is clean, neat and
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business appropriate
In conservative industries: Use caution with showing
piercings and tattoos
Refrain from wearing perfume/cologne
Don’t smell of smoke/food or body odors
Don’t chew gum or bring in food/drink
You want to be remembered for your WORDS and not your
appearance
Preparing for the Interview:
Personal Readiness
Interview Materials:
 Bring extra copies of your resume, reference list or
letters of recommendation, work/writing sample
 O.K. to bring pen/note pad and planner
Timeliness:
 Plan your route to the interview – arrive early
Body Language:
 Practice Mindfulness – handshake, smile, posture
Remember the Interview Begins in the Parking Lot
Interview Formats
 One-on-One – common format; can be used as a screening
interview
 Committee
 Group
 Phone
 Second/Technical
 Other – includes lunch/dinner interviews, portfolio presentation,
second-party interviews
Interview Questions:
Preparation
 Questions May Cover Many Topics – your
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qualifications, interests, even your personality
Thinking Through Responses Creates
Confidence – formulate what you want the
employer to know about you and bring examples of
past successes to the forefront of your memory
Practice, but don’t Memorize – practicing helps
your mind become more limber
Develop your agenda of what you want to cover
Listen to the agenda behind the question if you are
confused
Know How much time you have for the interview
Interview Questions:
Preparation
Cultivate Narratives about Your Experience
 Interviewers are looking for stories reflecting your successes.
Demonstrate your skills by describing situations you’ve faced,
what actions you’ve taken, and what the results were.
 Think back on internships, jobs, volunteer opportunities, class
projects, hobbies, club or student government experiences to
develop these stories.
 Structure your stories using these steps:
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State your Situation
Provide Details of who, what, where, when and why
Give numbers, if possible, to support your story
Describe the positive results of your action
Show the employer how your story relates to this position
Interview Questions:
While in the Interview
 Think positively
 Remember body language
 Maintain a professional attitude
 Pace yourself
 Listen to questions – it is ok to ask for them to be
repeated, and to pause and think before answering
 Don’t misinterpret interviewer reactions or (lack of)
Interview Questions
 Tell me about yourself.
 What makes you a good candidate for this position?
 What interests you most about this job?
 Why do you want to work for us?
 What are your strengths and weaknesses?
 What did you like best and least about your last job?
 What jobs have you enjoyed most? Least? Why?
 What is your energy level like? Describe your typical day.
 What have you learned from jobs you have held?
 What is your energy level like? Describe your typical day.
Interview Questions Cont.
 Can you work under pressure? How do you handle stress?
 How long will it take to make a contribution to our company?
 How would your supervisor describe you?
 What are your outstanding qualities?
 What can you do for us that someone else cannot do?
 Do you prefer to work individually or as part of a team?
 Where do you see yourself in 2 -3 years?
 What does a perfect working environment mean to you?
 Can you describe a perfect supervisor?
 Why should we hire you?
Behavioral Interview Questions
(How Past Experiences Determine Future Success)
Tell me about a time when…
 You handled a difficult situation with a co-worker
 You were creative in solving a problem
 Your work or idea was criticized
 You were forced to make an unpopular decision
 You did not fulfill a commitment to someone
Behavioral Interview Questions
(How Past Experiences Determine Future Success)
Tell me about a time when…
 You exceeded someone’s expectations.
 You convinced others to use your ideas.
 You had to speak up in order to make sure other people
knew how you thought or felt.
 You had to be relatively quick in coming up with a decision.
 You contributed to a team work environment (be specific).
Questions to Ask your Interviewer
 How is a new employee assimilated into the organization?
 What will be expected of me as a new employee?
 What is the nature of training and supervision given in
the early years of employment?
 Does your organization provide opportunities for on-going
training and education?
 What do you find most rewarding about working for this
company?
 What are the opportunities for growth/advancement?
Questions to Ask your Interviewer
 How will my performance be evaluated?
 Has your organization hired other graduates from PCC? If
so, could you talk about their performance and
advancement?
 How would you describe the characteristics of the most
outstanding employees in this position?
 What challenges did the previous person in this position
face?
 When will you make a hiring decision?
After the Interview –
Review
 What did you learn about the job/company?
 Are you still interested in the job?
 How well did you interview? What questions caught
you off guard?
 What might you do differently next time?
After the Interview –
Follow up
Thank you letters set you apart from the competition
 Write and send within 24 hours of an interview
 Typed or Handwritten – either format but keep it
professional
 Remind them of your skills and abilities and why you
are a good fit for the job
 Let them know you are still interested!
Employer Disqualifiers
 Arrogance, overt aggression
 Makes excuses – doesn’t
 Criticism of previous
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employer
Discussion of personal
problems
Dishonesty
Intolerant – strong
prejudices
Lack of enthusiasm –
passive and indifferent
Lack of interest in company
– shopping around
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accept responsibility
Overemphasis on money
Plans on keeping job only
a short time
Poor communication skills
Poor personal
appearance
Tardiness
Wants too much too soon
Only money motivated
Other Resources
Interview Stream: Software – contact Career Center or
link to it from www.pcc.edu/staff/tmaldona
Books:
Sweaty Palms – Career Center
On the Internet:
www.jobweb.com
www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting/interviewing
www.rileyguide.com
Salary Negotiation
 Not a first interview topic unless the employer
brings it up.
 Expect to start at the beginning when
entering a new field despite your age,or past
earning level
 Ask questions about the position get as much
information you can to make an informed
decision.
 Speak in ranges i.e. $12-$15
 Research the salary range on olmis.org,
salary.com etc.